Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me. All rights go to JK Rowling/Warner Bros. I do not profit in any way.

A/N: Hi Guys :D Thank you so much for those of you who reviewed the last chapter – it makes me very happy! Also thank you to the people who favourited/alerted my stories or me as an author! You've no idea how much it means! So thank you :D

This chapter is a sad one, but I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 2:

Harry ran his finger along the grain of the dark wood at the Gryffindor table. The usually appetizing food displayed on the golden plates today for once did not interest him. Harry looked over to Ron and saw that he was pushing the food around his plate, with a faraway expression. With a pang of familiar guilt, Harry wondered whether his best mate was thinking of his lost brother.

A memorial had been organised for today, and the Great Hall was packed; but despite the many people, it was too quiet. Despite the crowds; Harry felt alone.

The teachers had not slept that night, Harry learnt that morning. The table at the head of the hall was still occupied with teachers, but they looked exhausted. Old. Funny; Harry had never really thought of the Hogwarts teachers being old before, but the wrinkles were evident on McGonagall's face that morning, the skin under Sprout's sad eyes haggard.

They had been busy whilst Harry had attempted to sleep. Between them, the teachers had constructed a massive memorial, about ten yards from Dumbledore's white marble tomb. It was beautiful but somewhat saddening, as if to celebrate the lives of those they had lost, while setting their grief in stone. The large marble statue was figured like a Phoenix, its wings spread wide as if it was about to take flight. A single tear ran in stone down the feathers of its face.

Harry followed the Weasleys down through the Hogwarts grounds. Ginny's soft hand was comforting in his, as if the connection was healing. Ron and Hermione were in step with them, their hands intertwined also. Harry reached his hand out to Hermione, who smiled sadly, and accepted it. The four of them walked silently towards the statue hand-in-hand, and stood behind the other Weasleys.

It was heartbreaking to see Mrs Weasley cry. Her violent, uncontrollable sobs reminded Harry unpleasantly of years before, the only time he had seen her confronted with a Boggart. And her worst fear had come true, Harry realised with a painful jolt in his chest. The Weasley family had lost a child.

Mr Weasley tried desperately to comfort her, but Harry could see his own grief slip through the mask he had so carefully applied for the sake of his wife and remaining children. As Harry looked down at the ground, he wished for the umpteenth time that he could take their pain away.

The crowd did not need silencing as Kingsley began to speak in his low, sombre voice.

"Today, we say goodbye to the courageous people who laid down their lives for the sake of others. The people that were prepared to fight the Darkest Wizard of all time over the last year, for our freedom." He paused, gazing up at the enormous statue for a moment. He looked away to pull out his wand. He used it to conjure a list, and turned to address the audience. "For each witch or wizard, elf or goblin, giant or centaur, who gave their lives, we will engrave their name on this plaque," He said, gesturing with his wand towards the wooden slab at the base of the statue.

The memorial began. Every now and then, Kingsley would call out a familiar name, and Harry would twinge inside. For each name, someone would step forward, and tell of how the person in question had died.

The only sound that rang through the grounds throughout the ceremony was Kingsley's voice; Hogwarts was quieter than Harry had ever heard it.

"Fred Weasley."

As Ginny's hand tightened around his, Harry saw a red headed figure stood up, his legs visibly shaking.

It was odd seeing George without his mirror image; he looked lost as he made his way to the statue alone. Mrs Weasley was trying to quiet her sobs as George began to make his way to the platform, but seeing her son walk alone without his twin for the first time in nineteen years tipped her over the edge.

As George stood silently, Harry could see all too clearly the dark purple hollows under his red-rimmed eyes, the rest of his skin translucent. His usually vivid hair looked limp and lifeless. Worst of all: his eyes. They were no longer joyful, young and brimming with laughter. They were dull and full of pain. George's spark had died with his twin. He was broken.

George swallowed three times, looking at the audience; but Harry knew he wasn't really thinking of the audience at all. He was with Fred.

Percy stood up, and made his way towards his brother, tears gathering behind his spectacles as he hugged him tightly. Evidently Percy could not bear to see George looking so lost either.

"They killed him," George muttered as he stood limp in his elder brother's arms. Percy took a deep shaky breath, and led George back to the Weasley family as Kingsley wrote the name on the plaque.

Ginny leaned into Harry and wept into his chest as the next names were called out.

"Dobby the House Elf," Kingsley's rough voice sounded.

Harry felt pressure on his hand. Ginny was squeezing it, her eyes still slightly watery, and motioning for Harry to step forward. He took a deep, shaky breath, and concentrated on moving one foot in front of the other as he released Ginny's hand and moved in front of the crowd.

"I first met Dobby in unusual circumstances. In fact, they were fairly inconvenient at the time; he apparated into my bedroom whilst I was living with my Muggle relatives," Harry stopped for a moment, trying to think of what to say next, as some of the crowd smiled meekly.

"Dobby was a great friend of mine, always having my best interests at heart. He saved my life. Multiple times. And in the end, that's what got him killed." He spoke the last part harshly, his anger at the world and its injustices fuelling his words.

"Bellatrix Lestrange was purely responsible for his death. She threw the silver knife that pierced his chest, and she didn't feel an ounce of remorse. He was just an elf to her." Harry looked over at Ginny's face. She was looking straight at him, her gaze serious but comforting, and her soft brown eyes gave him the courage to continue, even though he felt like just collapsing on the floor.

"But to me, Dobby wasn't just an elf. He was a loyal friend, a brave comrade, and most of all... he was free. And nothing meant more to Dobby than his freedom. Thank you."

Harry made his retreating steps back to Ginny, Ron and Hermione quickly, his cheeks flushed.

Ginny smiled at him, and kissed his cheek, and his cheeks grew redder. He wrapped his arms around her, and she rested against him as the next name was called out.

"Nymphadora and Remus Lupin."

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat with difficulty, and saw a flurry of movement from the other side of the crowd. Suddenly, Andromeda Tonks was in front of him. Tonks' mother. She smiled swiftly, her dark eyes remaining sad, and passed the infant that she was holding to Harry. He took him without hesitation, and looked down into Teddy's deep blue eyes. His hair was bright blue, and he was surprisingly heavy for such a small baby. He focused alertly on Harry's face, and his tiny lips turned upwards into a definite smile. Harry smiled back at the little blue-haired bundle, a burst of warmth and affection developing in his chest. Teddy screwed up his face in concentration, and suddenly his hair was a jet black, and when he opened his eyes, they were a familiar green. That was when Harry knew that he would never, ever, let anything bad happen to this child, as long as he lived.

In the time that Harry had been silently bonding with Teddy, Andromeda had turned away from him, and moved in front of the statue to speak.

"My daughter and her husband died here last night, at the hand of Death Eaters, whilst trying to protect the remaining students at the school." Her eyes were hard, but had a strange shine to them, as though she was trying to prevent portraying her true emotions.

"Mr and Mrs Lupin were so brave. They fought the prejudice that some held against their relationship continually. They never gave up." She looked down at the floor for a moment, blinking heavily, but then raised her chin sharply, and addressed the audience.

"Their son, Teddy Lupin, will grow up to know his parents' names. He will know what they sacrificed so that he could live in a better world. I and his godfather, Harry Potter, will make sure of it."

As the applause began, and the two names were carved into the plaque in elegant, italic script, Andromeda's gaze did not leave Harry's. She walked towards him slowly, and smiled kindly.

"You'll make a great godfather, Harry," she said, softly.

Harry silently disagreed; he didn't know the first thing about children, having never been around them. Andromeda elaborated, seeing his uncertain eyes.

"At first, I must admit that I didn't know why Dora and Remus had picked you - you're so young! But I understand now. I can see the shadow of grief in your eyes, Harry. I can sense the sadness, the guilt that you seem to be placing upon yourself."

Harry gazed into her shrewd eyes silently.

"The point is, Harry," she continued when he didn't respond "that these are not the emotions of a child. Not many seventeen-year-olds that I've met are as mature as you." She smiled, "nor are as capable of feeling so much love," she added. "I saw the way you looked at Teddy; you love him already, don't you?"

Harry looked down at the bundle still curled up in his arms.

"I do, Mrs Tonks. And I'm going to be the best Godfather I possibly can for him," Harry said, solemnly.

"I know you will, dear," she responded, taking Teddy gently from Harry to hold him. She kissed Harry on the cheek. "I must go now dear," she said, motioning to the moving people around her - the memorial had finished.

"I'll bring him round to the Burrow soon," she said.

"Thank you, Mrs Tonks," Harry replied sincerely.

"No problem at all, my dear," she said, beginning to walk away.

"Oh, and Harry..." she said turning back to look at him; "please call me Andromeda."

She smiled back at him once more, before disappearing into the crowd.